Resistance from Baroda’s lower order, led by a century from allrounder Yusuf Pathan propelled the side to a first innings total of 385.

Resistance from Baroda’s lower order, led by a century from allrounder Yusuf Pathan propelled the side to a first innings total of 385. Resuming Day 2 of their Group A fixture against Chhattisgarh on 165 for 7, Yusuf combined with Bhargav Bhatt and Rishi Arothe, both of whom struck half-centuries to help Baroda attain a first-innings lead of 256. Chhattisgarh, in their second innings, progressed to 174 for 4, behind Baroda by 82 runs.

Yusuf remained unbeaten on 129 off 166 with 12 boundaries and four sixes, while adding 98 runs with Bhatt for the eighth wicket and another 108 runs with Arothe, whose 63 off 85 balls comprised five boundaries and four sixes. For Baroda, Omkar Verma finished with 4 for 84.

Responding to a lead of over 250, Chhattisgarh’s start wasn’t the greatest after Soaeb Tai removed opener Vikrant Rajput after the opening pair had added 29 runs. Ashutosh Singh was dismissed cheaply to leave Chhattisgarh at 50 for 2, before opener Avinash Dhaliwal and captain Harpreet Singh came together to stitch a partnership of 88 runs. The stand was snapped by Tae, who removed the Chhattisgarh captain for 43. Lukman Meriwala bowled superbly to give away just seven runs from six overs and was rewarded with the wicket of Dhaliwal for 79.